FEW John Smith’s Grand National gambles have been pulled of so spectacularly as when Monty’s Pass landed the Aintree showpiece in 2003.

Now his trainer Jimmy Mangan goes in search of another piece of National success with Himalayan Trail.

David Pipe’s Comply Or Die was backed into 7-1 favouritism before winning last year. While the public gamble from 33-1 to 10-1 which came up trumps when the Ted and Ruby Walsh trained and ridden Papillon scored nine years ago is legendary and left the bookmakers bemoaning their luck.

But Mangan’s first runner in the 4m4f marathon hit the jackpot for one of his owners Mike Futter when Barry Geraghty partnered the then 10-year-old Monty’s Pass to glory.

Irish bingo Futter, one of the five in the Dee Racing Syndicate who owned Monty’s Pass, has plotted connections’ Aintree coup ever since they landed the Kerry National the season before.

Futter had backed the horse in the ante-post markets continuously from 66-1 down to the 16-1 the horse went off on the day. It made him close to £1million.

Monty’s Pass ran at Aintree two further times, finishing fourth to Amberleigh House in 2004 and then completed back in 16th place behind winner Hedgehunter a year later.

Monty’s Pass is retired still at Mangan’s stables in Conna, County Cork. But now the Irish trainer is hoping he can pull off another Aintree gamble with Himalayan Trail.

He said: “Winning the Grand National was brilliant, I shall carry that memory into my grave. Everything went according to plan, and that doesn’t happen too often. It was a dream come true. He was fourth the year after, he ran a big race as he had a lot of weight and he ran pretty well in his third and final attempt there the following season (16th to Hedgehunter).

“He was a great servant to me and it’s hard to replace him. He’s out in the paddock every day enjoying himself.

“We may ride him out in the summer, but I wouldn’t want him to get too heavy.

“He’s going to live the rest of his life out at my farm.

“He won the Kerry National and was second in it and second also in the Galway Plate. He was an unbelievable horse.”

Having pulled out Conna Castle from the National entries, Mangan will rely on Himalayan Trail, who was trained by Sue Smith before being snapped up last summer for £130,000.

While with Smith Himalayan Trail won last year’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.

He has not troubled the judge this season, but ran well on unsuitably heavy going when a distant sixth to Black Apalachi in the totesport.com Becher Chase over the National fences in November.

Mangan believes on the sounder surface he will encounter this Saturday, Himalayan Trail – who will be ridden by Paddy Flood on only his second ride in the National – can improve on that first taste of the daunting Aintree obstacles considerably.

Mangan said: “Himalayan Trail is a real speed horse. We gave him a spin over hurdles at Naas in February, when he was 11th, but that was on bottomless ground and he’s a different horse in the spring.

“He’s really turned inside out since the weather has got warmer and better ground is the key for him, so we will be hoping that the rain stays away. I’m really looking forward to seeing how he gets at the weekend.

“His run in the totesport.com Becher Chase was on desperate ground and he still produced a good run. Barry Geraghty was delighted with him afterwards and he was absolutely thrilled with the way he jumped the fences.

“He’s coming to himself, and I’m hoping he’ll run a big race. Hopefully we’ll have another big day to come.”